Detachable clip for pens



Nov. 23, 1954 C. E. MARSHALL DETACHABLE CLIP FOR PENS Filed Dec. 9, 1953flTTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,694,843 Patented Nov. 23, 1954DETACHABLE CLIP FOR PENS Clinton E. Marshall, New York, N. Y.Application December 9, 1953, Serial No. 397,128 8 Claims. c1. 24-41This invention relates to clips such as commonly employed on the caps ofpens and similar writing implements. More particularly, the inventiondeals with a clip of the character described so constructed as toprovide detachable mounting of the clip in connection with the cap,thereby facilitating mounting of specific clip structures with caps inthe merchandising thereof.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view through part of a pen cap. diagrammaticallyshowing one form of clip which I employ.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the method of flexingthe clip in the attachment thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure, as seen in Fig. I.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing only part of theconstruction and showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form ofconstruction; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another form of construction.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, I have shown at 10 a fountain pen caphaving, adjacent the closed end thereof, an aperture 11, in connectionwith which a clip 12 is mounted. The showings in Figs. 1 and 2, as wellas in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, are diagrammatic and on enlarged scales toclarify the illustration. The clip 12 comprises a long spring arm 13having a rounded or knob end 14 and a mounting end portion 15. Themounting end portion 15 has depending side walls, one of which is shownat 16, and the forward edges of these walls are recessed or notched, asseen at 17, the notches 17 having undercut portions formed by What maybe termed hook or catch ends 18.

The mounting endtportion 15 also includes a rearward extension 19 beyondthe walls 16 to seat upon the outer surface of the cap 10 in the mannerclearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. At 20 I have shown a yleldablekey bar for keying the clip in position on the cap 10.

In making the assemblage, the hook end portions 18 of the walls 16 aremoved downwardly through the aperture 11 with the spring arm 13 in ahighly flexed condition, after which, this arm is flexed to bring thewalls 16 into the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing and, in suchposition, the key bar 20 is moved into the recesses 17 through theopening 21, noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing; whereupon, pressure upon theclip is released and the bar 20 will then be moved into the aperture 11and into engagement with the undersurface of the wall of the cap, in themanner diagrammatically shown 1n Fig. 1 of the drawing, and thisdefinitely retains the clip in secured position and against movementlongitudinally of the cap.

Whenever desired, the clip can be reflexed to the position shown in Fig.2 of the drawing and the bar 20 removed for detachment of the clipsubstitution of another clip therefor. The flexing of the clip 12 ISexaggerated in Fig. 2 of the drawing for sake of clarlty.

It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing, thatthe ends 20' of the bar 20 extend beyond the sides of the clip and theaperture 11 to engage the inner surface of the cap 10.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawiing, I have diagrammatically shown themodified form of clip 22, which diifers from the clip 12 in that themounting end portion 23 of the clip includes side walls 24 which fit andoperate in an aperture 25 in a cap 26, the extension such as 19 beingomitted. Here, the side walls 24 have undercut apertures 27, generallysimilar to the'apertures 17, the walls having the retaining hooks 28,similar to the hooks or catches 18. With this construction, instead ofusing simply a crossbar, such as the bar 20, a somewhat longer barportion 29 is provided on a mounting spring 30, this spring havingspring ends 31 and 32 extending at opposed sides of the bar 29. Thegeneral plan of the ends 31 and 32 is indicated in Fig. 5 of thedrawing; whereas, the contour of these ends and arrangement with respectto the bar 29 are indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The end 31 isadapted to bear upon the inner surface of the cap 26 in form tensiona.support of the clip or the end 33 thereof upon the cap 22; whereas, theend 32 of the spring exerts an outward pressure on the mounting endportion 23 to further assist in the tensional support of the clip inoperative position. In other words, the bar 29 acts as a fulcrum, aroundwhich the clip swings. It will be understood that, in assembling thespring with the clip, the spring will be flexed in the mounting of thebar 29 in the recesses 27 in order to position the bar rearwardly of thehook ends 28, which ends hold the spring in proper position on the clip.

The structure of Fig. 6 shows a slight modification over the structureshown in Fig. 4 in simply providing an extension 34 on a clip 22',otherwise generally similar to the clip 22 and in modifying the spring30' so as to extend the spring end 32' sufficiently to engage theextension 34 of the clip. In Fig. 6, 31 represents the spring end,similar to the end 31; 29' the crossbar; 24' the side walls; 27' thenotches and 28 the hook ends. In Fig. 6 of the drawing, 25 representsthe aperture in which the clip is mounted and 26 shows part of the cap.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, I have shown a further modification of thestructure shown in Fig. 4 and, in said figure, 35 represents the cliphaving a hood mounting end portion 36 defined by side walls, one ofwhich is shown at 37, and a long end wall 38. The side walls havenotches or recesses 39, similar to the recesses 27 with the hook orcatch ends 40 for retaining a mounting spring 41 against displacement.The spring 41 is generally similar to the spring 30, in other words, hasan end 42 similar to the end 31. However, the end 43 is modified to theextent that it is flexed downwardly, so as to engage the lower edge ofthe wall 38 in the manner clearly shown by the broken away portion inFig. 7. 44 represents the crossbar portion of the spring, similar to thebar 29, which seats in the notches 39 for retaining the clip inposition.

With the structures shown in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, the ends 31, 33,31, 32', 42, 43 are of such form as to be within boundaries of the clipstructure and, while this is not so important with the end engaging thecap, it is important insofar as engagement with the mounting end of theclip is concerned. The crossbar portions 29, 29' and 44 are madesufficiently long so as to engage inner surfaces of the cap in formingpivot portions, upon which the clip is free to function. Assemblages ofthe springs 30 and 41 with the clip will be the same as with thestructure shown in Fig. 4.

In this connection, it will be understood that the clips can be detachedby reflexing the springs sufliciently to disengage the crossbar endsthereof from the hooks 28, 28' and 40.

By employing readily attachable and detachable clips of the kind underconsideration, initial attachment from a manufacturing standpoint issimplified by dispensing with conventional fastening means or operationskindred thereto and the further advantage in a structure of this typeand kind will facilitate merchandising of a pen to give to the ultimatepurchaser an opportunity of selecting the particular character or designof clip to be used in conjunction with the pen. With all forms ofconstruction shown, it will be understood that the relatively long sidewall portions at the mounting end of the clip fitting snugly but freelyin the apertures of the cap will retain the clip against lateralshifting on the cap.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, and a bar portion engaging thenotches of said walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap.

2. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging thenotches of said walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap, and saidbar portion extending into the aperture of the cap in positioning theclip on the cap.

3. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging thenotches of said walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap, said barportion extending into the aperture of the cap in positioning the clipon the cap, and said bar portion being held in keyed position byresilient properties of said .clip.

4. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging thenotches of said walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap, andtensional means supporting the clip in tensional engagement with saidcap.

5. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising 4 an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging thenotches of said Walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap, tensionalmeans supporting the clip in tensional engagement with said cap, andsaid tensional means including oppositely extended spring ends on saidbar portion.

6. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging thenotches of said Walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap, tensionalmeans supporting the clip in tensional engagement with said cap, saidtensional means including oppositely extended spring ends on said barportion, one of said spring ends engaging the inner surface of the cap,and the other spring end engaging the mounting end portion of the cap.

7. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof, aclip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portion definedby side walls, said side walls having undercut notches opening throughthe forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging the notches ofsaid walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said side walls inretaining the clip against displacement from the cap, tensional meanssupporting the clip in tensional engagement with said cap, saidtensional means including oppositely extended spring ends on said barportion, the mounting end portion of the clip having a depending endwall, one of said spring ends engaging the inner surface of the cap, andthe other spring end engaging said depending end wall of the clip.

8. A detachable clip for writing implements of the character described,the implement comprising a cap having an aperture in one wall thereof,the clip comprising an elongated arm having a mounting end portiondefined by side Walls, said side walls having undercut notches openingthrough the forward edges of said walls, a bar portion engaging thenotches of said walls and the inner surface of the cap beyond said sidewalls in retaining the clip against displacement from the cap, and saidmounting end portion including a rear extension beyond said aperture ofthe cap and arranged upon the outer surface of the cap.

No references cited.

